MetaVNC - a window aware VNC

What's New

The portability of source code for unix-like systems is improved.

About MetaVNC

MetaVNC pursues a remote desktop environment that users can control
applications on different hosts seamlessly.
MetaVNC is a window aware VNC. MetaVNC merges windows of multiple
remote desktops into a single desktop screen. MetaVNC also comes
with its own task bar and application menu, which makes it easy to
control applications or windows on different hosts.

Furthermore, the Win32 version and linux version of MetaVNC viewer
merges remote desktops with local desktops. It enables Linux
and Windows remote desktops and local desktops to co-exist seamlessly!
If you use MS-Windows as a main desktop and connect remote Linux
desktops through VNC, you must love it!

Screen Shots

The Java version MetaVNC viewer

The above image is a snapshot of the Java version of MetaVNC client
which is connecting
to a MetaVNC server on Windows2000 and a MetaVNC server on Linux
(GNOME). You will notice (1) Windows applications and Linux
applications co-exist (skin is handled properly),
(2) a merged task bar on the top, and (3) a merged application menu on
the top-left.

The Win32 version MetaVNC viewer

The above image is a snapshot of the Win32 version of MetaVNC client
which is connecting to a MetaVNC server on Linux
(GNOME) using the full screen mode. Since the background region
of the remote desktop is
transparent, the local desktop and the remote desktop co-exist
seamlessly.

Platforms

Currently, the following implemetations are available;

Server

Linux w/ X11

Microsoft Windows 2000/XP

Client (Viewer)

Java

Linux w/ X11 (w/o Meta Window Manager)

Windows 2000/XP (The freedesktop.org style menus of linux version servers are not supported yet.)

Documents

Related Works

TightVNC for most platforms except the linux server
(http://www.tightvnc.com/)

xf4vnc (http://xf4vnc.sourceforge.net)

Ultr@VNC for old releases of win32 servers (http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net)

Acknowledgements

This project was developed as a part of the Collective at
Stanford University, aiming at a suitable remote desktop environment
for the "Virtual Appliances." The author thanks Prof. Monica Lam
and project members, especially Constantine Sapuntzakis, for valuable
discussions.
Copyright (C) 2004-2007 UCHINO Satoshi.